Kevin Garnett could miss 2 weeks

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WALTHAM -- While the news on Courtney Lee’s sprained left ankle was positive for the Celtics (he could play Tuesday against the New York Knicks), the news regarding Kevin Garnett’s sprained left ankle and foot injury was uncertain.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said during Monday’s practice that Garnett doesn’t have an ankle sprain but “ankle inflammation” and he could miss two weeks. Ainge said he definitely won’t play Tuesday against the New York Knicks or Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Take a couple of Advil and give it some rest,” Ainge said. “Could he play tomorrow? Yeah but we’re not playing him tomorrow. The time frame, I don’t know but it’s not an ankle sprain but there’s inflammation in the ankle, sort of like an ankle sprain in unpredictability. So I think that it’s not longer than three weeks or it could be a week. I’ll guess two weeks just because we want to make sure he’s really ready. We need to get him fresh anyway.”

Before Ainge spoke, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he wouldn’t rule out Garnett missing an extended period of time. Garnett apparently injured the foot in Wednesday’s 87-86 loss to the New Orleans Hornets but played the next two games, losses to the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies.

Rivers said he was not concerned about this being a season-ending injury for Garnett, but added: “But can he miss four or five games? Yeah that’s probably possible. I don’t know that but to me (season ending) is not a concern. He hurt his foot in that Dallas game. (It’s not serious) unless something crazy happens in the MRI that I can tell you the first look, they didn’t see that. At the end of the day, he may miss some games.

“We’re going to err on the right side, whatever they decide. If they give me an option of you can play him every third game or give him two weeks rest, I can tell you right now I am going to say two weeks rest, if it’s my decision.”